Black Mafia Motorcycle Club Zooms In To Help Enfield Care Home Bullsmoor Lodge Celebrate Veteran Friendly Foundation Status
Residents and staff at Enfield care home Bullsmoor Lodge welcomed the roar and rumble of a posse of bikers recently, as eleven members of the Black Mafia Motorcycle Club arrived to help celebrate the home’s ‘Outstanding’ Veteran Friendly Framework assessment.
The Black Mafia Motorcycle Club was founded by veterans of the Royal Green Jackets, an infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1966, taking its name from the regiment’s nickname.
Del Goody, President of the Black Mafia Motorcycle Club, said:
“All of us were very touched by the warm welcome we received. We feel very strongly about how important it is not to forget about the elderly community and if we can bring some sunshine into their day then we are more than happy to do so, as indeed the dedicated staff do on a daily basis at Bullsmoor Lodge. We met some fantastic people, residents and staff alike, and would be delighted to return at some point in the future.”
Their visit came as Bullsmoor Lodge celebrated the completion of its Veteran Friendly Framework assessment, which resulted in an ‘Oustanding’ commendation. The aim of the VFF is to better support the practical, emotional and social needs of the Armed Forces community in residential care homes across England by providing training and resources to assess and improve the care they offer. It will help tackle loneliness and has the scope to deliver improved health and wellbeing outcomes for the 25,000 veterans living in care homes in England.
To achieve its Veteran Friendly status, Bullsmoor Lodge was required to meet eight standards. These included noting Armed Forces status within care plans, addressing social isolation and signposting to support services, such as their local Royal British Legion branch and other charities that provide support for veterans or their partners.
Manager Lisa Coombs said:
“We’re really proud to share that we’ve been officially accredited under the Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF)! This has been such a meaningful journey for us, helping our team learn more about how to support veterans and their families in the best possible way.
“It has opened up so many important conversations with our residents. What we once worried might be difficult stories to hear have actually turned into beautiful memories, from heart-warming love stories to cherished memorabilia. It’s been incredible to see how much joy and pride these moments bring to our residents when they’re able to share them.
“We’re excited about what’s ahead, we’ve got some lovely events in the works and new partnerships forming. One of those events will be our VFF Celebration Afternoon Tea (date to be confirmed), and we can’t wait to celebrate together. This is just the beginning, and we truly believe it will help us make a difference – not only in our home but also in the wider community.”
The VFF is a collaboration between Armed Forces charities Royal Star & Garter and Royal British Legion, and NHS Veterans’ Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA), with funding support from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust.
Kathryn Glass is the VFF Project Lead at Royal Star & Garter and is responsible for supporting and assessing care homes going through the scheme. She said: “The application that Bullsmoor Lodge submitted was of an exceptionally high standard and is a testament to the dedication, passion and commitment they have for providing high-quality person-centred care for their residents, along with forging some really meaningful connections to the AF Community and NHS services.”
All nine AgeCare care homes are undergoing VFF accreditation this year.
